About the European Family Conference
What, where, and when is the EFC, and who can register?
Please read the information on this page to find out more about the European Family Conference (EFC) and who can register.
If members of your family also intend to join the European Young People’s Conference (EYPC), then please see About the EYPC.
What is the EFC?
The European Family Conference is an opportunity for families from across Europe to come together and open to the Lord regarding how to go on in our families and in the church life. The conference is intended for parents and their children. In order to have the best atmosphere, we want to tell you what to expect at the conference.
The burden of the conference is that the Lord would raise up families for the church life. The schedule includes family activities such as singing, stories, talks, crafts, games and workshops during the day. Our hope is that we can learn together how to carry out these activities once we return home.
The conference also provides a good opportunity to get to know other families in the church life and share with them our experiences, struggles, and difficulties.
In the evenings we will have times of fellowship for parents and burdened saints. Parents are encouraged to make private arrangements to share child care duties.
There will be three special meetings for children aged 11-12 where we will speak to them about the Lord Jesus. A parent or guardian must be with their child during these meetings.
The daily workshops, corporate activities, and evening fellowships are part of the conference. By registering for the conference, we are registering to take part in all of these scheduled activities. All these aspects of the conference are designed for families to do together, and there will be no organised child-care.
There will be an activities tent and a playing field where families can go throughout the day to play games and build crafts together informally.
There will not be creche facilities; however, there should be toys and sports equipment for children of all ages.
Children under 18 are not allowed to use electronics, including phones or tablets, at any time during the conference. This is a safeguarding issue and also applies to those attending the young people’s conference.
Our goal is that through all the workshops, activities, and fellowship times, we would make progress in learning how to shepherd all the members of our families. We look to the Lord for His rich blessing on this time.
Updated 9th May 2024
Where is the EFC held?
When does the EFC take place?
Both the EYPC and EFC take place in the summer, typically during the last week of July leading into August. Please see the home page for the specific dates for this year.
Families
The EFC is open to any family with children from 0-12 years old. Children age 13+ must be registered in the EYPC.
Children
The EFC schedule will include workshops for the whole family to participate in together. There will not be separate meetings only for children.
There will not be creche facilities; however, there should be toys and sports equipment for children of all ages.
There will be three meetings for children aged 11-12 (Pre-YP). A parent must be with their child in the Pre-YP meetings at all times.
Children may be registered for full-sized meals, half-sized meals, or no meals. Children up to age 3 with no meals also have the option of having no bed. See the Conference Costs and Fees for more details.
An EFC T-shirt is included in the registration fee only for children who are paying full price (i.e. for full-sized meals). For other children, T-shirts will need to be purchased separately through the registration form.
Children are the responsibility of their parents/guardians at all times.
Adult Family Members
Adult family members are those who have young children attending the conference, so they are attending as a family unit. This includes parents, grandparents, etc.
Family workshops will take place throughout the day, including evenings. The EFC will have a full schedule.
An EFC T-shirt is included in the registration fee.
A parents’ handbook containing information and stories will be provided. If you would also like an EYPC handbook, then you will need to purchase it separately on the registration form.
Practical Serving Saints
Practical serving saints are those who join the EFC without their own children, i.e. they are not coming to the conference as part of a family unit.
There are many practical needs for the EFC to be carried out. Therefore, any brother or sister who is burdened for the children and families can register to attend. No prior experience of serving with children is required; the ability to coordinate with others is necessary.
Practical Service Needs
MATERIALS
1. Handbooks
You will be helping with the typesetting and the printing of the EFC (parents) handbook, Pre-YP workbook, and the child materials in different languages.
2. Written Translation
There is a need to translate the EFC (parents) handbook, Pre-YP workbook, and child materials from English into different languages. (Please indicate which language you can translate from English under the “Further Information” section.)
3. T-shirt
ADMIN
4. Office*
The Office Team will coordinate with the different service groups to make sure the conference is running smoothly both prior to and during the conference. (Please indicate your interest in the service even If you won’t be available prior to the conference and make a comment under the “Further Information” section.)
5. Announcements*
ACTIVITIES
6. Afternoon Activities
7. Free Activities (including crafts)
8. Hike
Prepare an easy hike route for families. This route should be suitable for young families who might have buggies/prams/strollers as well as older children. You will be coordinating the transport for families to be at the hike and return.
PRACTICAL
9. Playground Setup
10. Check-in/Arrivals (first day only)*
DURING THE MEETING
11. Singing
There will be singing time at the beginning of each workshop. This team will coordinate how to have a joyful singing time to welcome all the families and how they can involve the different language groups.
12. Live Translation
13. Clean-up*
This service takes place when the families are in the workshop. There is a need to help cover up the stations and to clean up the area. Toilets will need to be cleaned/restocked regularly, and the trash bins will need to be emptied.
14. Guitar
FULL-TIME SERVICE
15. Audio*
16. Facilities*
17. First Aid
If you are a certified physician or nurse, you may want to join the First-Aid Team. The First-Aid Team will provide care for those who become unwell and those who sustain any injury (not for routine medical check-ups) during the camp. The First-Aid Station will be open and staffed at scheduled times in coordination with the other saints you are serving with.
18. Snacks
19. Pre-YP
You will coordinate how to take care of the children aged 11-12 during the conference with others on the team.
20. Verse Memorization / Rewards
Day Visitors from Poland
Saints from Poland have the option of attending the EFC as Day Visitors. The saints in this category must also register.
Accommodation and meals are not arranged by the Conference.
It is not possible for someone of YP age (13 to 18) to attend the conference in this way; all young people in the village must be fully registered in the EYPC.
Please remember to purchase your handbooks and T-shirts on page 4 of the registration form as they are not included in the visitor fee.
As a reminder, the Conference will not accept any drop-ins. Saints who are not registered will NOT be permitted to any Conference meetings.
Who Can Register: Other Visitors
In the rare event that you would like to participate in the EFC but make private accommodation arrangements, please email your Country Coordinator to enquire about registering as an Other Visitor.
It is not possible for someone of YP age (13 to 18) to attend the conference in this way; all young people in the village must be fully registered in the EYPC.
Accommodation and meals are not arranged by the Conference. If you register in this category, please do not expect the Conference to help with your accommodation in any way, including communicating with your host.
Please remember to purchase your handbooks and T-shirts on page 4 of the registration form as they are not included in the visitor fee.
As a reminder, the Conference will not accept any drop-ins. Saints who are not registered will NOT be permitted to any Conference meetings.
Who Cannot Register for the EFC?
However, this year it will be possible for young people in the Junior Conference to be accommodated with their family as long as a parent is also registered and serving with the EYPC Junior Conference.
EYPC 2025 – Save the date!
27 July – 2 August 2025
Registration will open soon!
The registration deadline has now passed.
The registration deadline was 9 June 2024.
The travel edits deadline has been extended to 24 June 2024.
To complete or update your travel information, please log in and do this before the deadline.
After this point, changes must be emailed to transport@ypconference.eu.